Bottle-capping machine



June 24, 1930.

ATTORNEY Patented June 24', 193G mam KERNEY R. BUNKER, OF KANSAS CITY,

MISSOURI, .assrelvon 'ro THE nvnnnnv coMPANY, OFFREDERIGK, MARYLAND, A conroae'rzon on MARYLAND- BOTTLE-CAPIPING MACHINE Application filed March 13,1926. Serial No. 94,551;

My invention relates to bottle capping machines and more particularly to a device of that character for domestic use in applying friction caps'to bottles or the like, theprincipal object of the invention being to provide a capping machine wherein the necessary pres.-

produced expeditiously and with a minimum of manual eflort, and without danger of brgakage of the bottles.

in accomplishing this object I'haVeprovided improved details ofstructure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. l is a perspective view of a bottle capping machine embodying my improvements, illustrating a bottlein capping position in the machine. 1 a

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the operative partsof the machine in position for applying a cap to a bottle.

Fig. '3 is a similar view of thesame parts after the cap has been applied.

Fig. l is a detail gear latch. V

Referring more in detail to the drawings: I

perspective view of the V 1 designates a platform forming the base of the machine and having ears 2 providedwith apertures 3 through which screws or the like,

may be passed to attach themachine to'a table or support. At the sideof .the platform are upstanding flanges 4, and removably anchored to the flanges are vertical standards 5, preferably consisting of T bars, the web members of which are slotted at their lower ends to form hooks 6 and 7' for projection through apertures 8 in the platform flanges and over the upper edges of the flanges to connect the standards with the platform, the upper ends of the webs 9 having teeth 9 forming rack bar sections,

Slidable on the standards 5 is frame 10,-

preferably consisting of two sheet metal plates stamped to form the out-struck ribs 11 and edge flanges 12, so that when the sheets are connected, they combine toform edge grooves 13 for. receiving the flanges of the -T-bars when the frame is applied thereto, to

enablethe frame to slide in guided relation with the standard member. The ribs areof such dimensions thatthe flanges 12 meet at. the outer sides of the standards and the intermediate positions of the sheet are spaced to formthe chamber 14, the flanges being con nected by bolts or the like 15. 1 sure for applying the cap-to the-bottle may be The frame plates are provided with regis termg, arcuate SlOtSlGfil'lClWltll registering apertures 17 through'which pivot members,

consisting of bolts or the lilre18 may be pro-v jected. Pivotally'mounted on the the members 18 are actuating plates 19 having gear segments 20 meshing with each other, and having gear segments 21- adapted to mesh with the rack teeth 9 onzthe adjacent stand ards 5, each plate having. a straight edge 22 adapted to lie parallel with the standards and adjacent the rack teeth when the actuat ing plates are in initial or idle position. 7 Also mounted on one of the pivot members 18 is'a handle member 23, comprising a metal strap bent upon itself to form the spaced arms 24 and 25,- the free ends of which are mounted on the-pivot member 18 and the body of which is adapted for movement over the frame 10 and over the opposite standardb; so that the handle may be swung up and down on its -pivotal mounting, and pressure on it balanced at opposite sides of the frame. The handle members are j connected adjacent their free 80. v ends with the'local actuating plate 19 by a pin 26 which extends through both arms ofthe handle and freely through the actuating plate, so thatwhen the handle is moved, vertically, it .moves-the plate on its pivotal ss the a'ctuatingplateandavoid'damage tov the Track teeth on the standard. 7

The'lower edges of the frame plates are stanipedtoprovide the laterally directedears 28 and mounted on said cars by rivets or the like 29 is an inverted cup 30. of slightly Q5. greater diameter than the bottle cap with whichflthe machine is adapted for use. .The cup 30 hasfa flaring mouth31: adapted for centeringithe cup on the caps and is provided with an interior base cushion 32for en ice v gaging the caps when the latter are forced onto a bottle supported on the platform 1. As the actuating plates are adapted for free movement on their pivotal mountings, 5 weight of the handle would automatically rock them unless means were provided to obviate such action. I, therefore, providethe frame with a latch 38 consisting of a metal bar, located between the frame plates and having spaced pairs of ears'35and 36 anchored in slots in the frame plates and having a corrugated, free end 37 engageable with the teeth of one of the gear segments when the frame is at the upward limit of its movement, the bar bein of spring metal so that it may yield to permit the actuating plates to rotate but hold thereagainst with such pressure to prevent automatic movement of the plates. 3

20 Assuming the parts to be constructed and assembled as described, its operation is as.

follows A bottle to be capped is seated on the platform in alignment with the-capping cup, and a spring cap placed over the mouth of the bottle. The capping frame is then lowered by down pressure on the handle, the down pressure rotating theactuating plate to which the handle is secured, and movement of the p imary plate imparting corresponding movement to the secondaryiplate through the meshing teeth of their corresponding gear segments 20. Rotation of the actuating plates carries their-gear segments 21 to mesh with the rack teeth on the standards, and en gagement of these gear segments with the standard racks force'sthe framelO clownwardly, bringing the capping cup into engagement with the cap onthe bottle and forcing the cap to place, the cushion within the capping frame yielding toencess pres sure, to avoid breakage or damage'to the bottle or cap.

The operator can tell fr-om'the nature of a the resistance and from the cliclrof the cap onto the mouth of the bottle when the cap is properly positioned and he then lifts theihandle to elevate the capping frame so that the bottle may be removed and a new on'einsert- 5Q, edinto the machine. Upward movement of the handle returns the actuating plates to their initial position, the stop pin 27 preventing the teeth of the gear segments on the ac tnatingplates from contacting the rack teeth on the standards and the teeth'ofthe. gear segments 20 of the primary plate moving under the latch 33'to hold the actuating plates when the handle is released, to retain the capping frame in positionfor a succeeding co operation. i I

' V t is apparent that with the structure disclosed and described, the capping pressure is balanced so that the stress is entirely vertical 7 and of a natureto press the caps'evenly to 03 place on the bottle necks.

It is also apparent that the machine is capable of exerting the necessary pressure for forcing the caps to place, but that danger of breakage from excessive pressure is negligible because of the manual control which the operator has over'the actuating mechanism during the capping operation.

Attention is also called to the fact that the device may be readily dismantled for shipping or storage by sliding the carriage from the tops of the standards and then un- .hooking the standards from the base, after which the parts may be packed in a small space. o

What I claim and desire to secure by Lettel's Patent is i 1. In a bottle capping machine, a platform, spaced standards on the platform, each comprising a rack bar, a frame slidable on the standard, actuating plates pivotally mounted in the frame, comprising meshing gear segments and gear segments co-operative with the standard rack bars, a handle pivotally mounted on the frame and connected with one of the actuating plates, and a capping member on the frame.

2: A bottle capping machine, comprising a platform, spaced standards on the platform each comprising a'rack bar, a frame slidably mounted on the standards and having an arcuate "slot, actuating plates pivotally.

mounted in the frame, comprising meshing gear segments and other gear segments cooperative with the rack'bars on the standards, a handlep'ivotally mounted on the frame, a pin onthe handle connected with one of the actuating plates and movable through the slot in the frame plates, a stop pin on one of the actuating plates engageable with the frame to limit travel of the actuating plates, a latch engaging one of the gear segments to yieldingly hold the same against pivotal movement, and a capping member on said frame. i

3. In a bottle capping machine, the com binationof a' pair of standards, each having a rack, a capping element carried between said standards and freely movable relatively "to the racks, and means for actuating said capping element, said means including a pair of elements connected with-the capping ele ment and havlng teeth which engage each other to transmit the movement of one to the other and having teeth which aremovable into mesh with the racks of the standards to move the capping element and-movableout of mesh with said racks to allow thebottle capping element to be moved freely relatively to said racksof said standards.

4. A bottle c'apper comprising a double rack, a rider slidably engaging said double rack, gear devices rotatably mounted within said rider and'arra-nged to mesh with each other and to engage said double rack, a capperthroat carried by said rider for pressing a crown cap upon a bottle positioned between said double rack, and means forrot-ating said gear devices for moving said rider with respect to said double rack. e

5. A bottle capper comprising a double rack, a rider embracing said double rack and having gears thereon, said gears meshing with each other and with said doublev rack, a capper throat carried by said rider in a position between said double rack for pressing a crown cap upon a bottle and means for imparting rotative movement to one of said gears for correspondlngly rotating another of said gears and moving said rider with respect to said double rack for pressing a crown cap upon a bottle.

6. In a bottle capper comprising a pair of standards, a rack carried by the upper portion of each of said standards directed toward each other, a rider slidably mounted on said standards, gears pivotally mounted on said rider along axes located between said racks, said gears being mutually intermeshed and meshing with each of said racks, a capper throat carried by said rider and means for imparting rotative movement to one of said gears for moving said rider with respect to said double rack and impressing a crown cap upon a bottle.

7. A bottle capper comprising a pair of standards, racks formed on the upper exrack, a rider slidably engagin said double lack, a capper throat carried ysaid rider i for pressing a crown cap upon a bottle positioned between said double rack, operating means carried by said rider, and a difleren t-ial gearing carried by said rider and interconnecting said operating means and said double rackgfor moving said rider with respect to said double rack. 1

l1. A bottle capping tool comprising a double rack, a rider slidably engaging said double rack, gear devices rotatably mounted within said rider and arranged to mesh with each other and to engage said double rack; a horizontally extending spring member disposed within said rider and adapted to en- I gage one of said gear devices for maintainlng said gear devices in predetermined position, a capper throat carried by said rider for pressing a crown cap upon a bottle positioned between said double rack, and means for rotating said gear devices for moving said rider with respect to said double rack. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

KERNEY R. BUNKER.

tremity of each of said standards, a rider V slidably mounted on said racks, mutilated gear members pivotally mounted within said rider meshing with each other and meshing with saidracks, a capper throat carried by said rider for impressing a crown cap upon a bottle located between said standards and spring means for maintaining said gear members in a predetermined position.

8. A bottle capper comprising a double rack, a rider slidably engaging said double rack, gear devices rotatably mounted within said rider, said gear devices having-teeth of a given radius meshing with said double rack, a capper throat carried by said rider for pressing a crown cap upon a bottle positioned between said double rack, said gear devices having teeth of another radius intermeshing with each other, and means for ro tating said gear devices for moving said rider with respect to said double rack;

9. A bottle capper comprising-a double rack, a rider slidably engaging said double rack, gear segments rotatably mounted within said rider, said gear segments having teeth of a given radius adapted tomesh with each other and having" teeth of a smaller radius adapted to mesh with said double tioned between said double'rack, andmeans j p for rotating said gear segments for moving said rider with respectto said double rack.

10. A bottle capper, comprising a double 

